Soldier&#39;s armor.



FTUQ AR laZY9s23Q LBHAM SOLDIERS ARMOR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 311MB.

Patented Sept. 17, 1918.

2 SHEETSSHEEY I.

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J. BILAN.

SOLDIERS ARMUR.

APPLICATION mm sun 3.191s.

Patented Sept. 17, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

JOHN IBILAN, 0F FLIN '1, MICHIGAN.

SOLDIERS ARMOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 17, 1918.

Application filed July 3, 1918. Serial No. 243,150.

To all when: it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN BILAN, a subject of the Emperor of Austria, residing at Flint, in the county of Genesce and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Soldiers Armor, of which the following is a specification.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a bulletproof armor or shield that is light in weight and readily carried by a soldier for protection from shrapnel and other missiles, provision being made for absorbing the shocks of contact when the device is struck by a flying missile.

A further object of the invention is to provide a breast protector for soldiers adapted for shielding the body from bullets and also designed to resiliently obstruct oncoming missiles so as not to hurt or greatly shock the wearer of the device when the latter is struck by the enemy.

\Vith these general objects in View and others that ill hereinafter appear, the device is fully illustrated in the accompanying drawings and in which like reference charactors designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device with a portion of the outer covering broken away.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof with the attaching straps removed.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the same.

Fig. l is an enlarged sectional view of the device taken adjacent one of the spring members.

Fig. is a sectional view taken through the top bar of the device illustrating one of the adjustable springs mounted thereon.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the top bar of the device, and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a spring attaching member employed with the said bar.

Referrin more in detail to the drawings, my device oroadly consists of a rectangular shield 10 formed of suitable material for preventing bullets from passing therethrough, the shield being bent in suitable curvature for mounting upon the chest and front portion of the body of a person such as a soldier. The shield 10 is provided with a heavy wire frame 11 around the margin thereof and over which a heavy wire net or screen 12 is stretched while a leather lining 13 is provided over the inner side of the screen and a smaller leather covering 14: is provided upon the outer side thereof.

Conical springs 15 are secured to the frame 11 adjacent the lower corners 16 of the screen as well as substantially centrally of the opposite sides 17 thereof. Circular pads 18 are provided upon the outer larger or base ends of the springs 15 adapted to rest against the body of a. person when the device is in use. Adjustable straps 19 are connected between the oppositely positioned pads 18 and these straps also rest upon the body of the wearer.

A transverse bar 20 is provided at the top of the shield 10 having spaced pairs of diametrically arranged lugs 21. Upper springs 22 similar to the aforementioned springs 15 are provided with plates 23 having perforations 24. therethrough for slidably mounting the plates upon the bar 20. Opposite notches 25 in the plates 23 communicate with the perforations 24: for permitting the plates 23 to pass any desired number of pairs of said lugs 21 so asto position the plates 23 at any desired point intermediate the sets of lugs upon the bar 20.

Pads 26 are carried by the springs 15 for resting against the person adjacent the shoulders while shoulder straps 27 are con nected between the pads 26 and the pads 18 upon corresponding opposite sides of the shoulder 11 adapted for passing over the shoulders of the wearer in crossed relations. Buckles 28 are provided in the straps 27 for adjusting the shield 10 upon the person with the pads 18 and 26 as well as the straps 19 in engagement with the body.

A serviceable bullet shield is provided readily attached in shock absorbing relations upon a soldiers body preventing bullet-s from injuring the soldier. The shield 10 'is slightly resilientwhich taken with the repads rearwardly carried by the shield adapted for seating upon the body of the wearer, a transverse bar adjacent the top of the shield, springs adjustablyretained in position upon said bar when in use, body engaging pads carried by said springs and attaching straps for the device connected to the said pads.

2. In combination with a bulletproof shield, a bar transversely secured rearwardly of the shield adjacent the upper end thereof, sets of spaced pairs of lugs upon the said bar, perforated plates slidably mounted upon the said bar having notches adapted f or the free reception of said lugs during the sliding adjustment of said plates thereover, conical springs attached at their smaller ends to the said plates, pads carried by the larger rear ends of said springs adapted for resting upon the body of the wearer when the device is in use, resiliently mounted body engaging members rearwardly carried intermediate the ends of the shield and ad-V justable attaching straps between the said body engaging members and pads.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JOHN BILAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

